Effect

Generation I

SolarBeam does nothing on the turn it is selected, other than state that the user has taken in sunlight. On the following turn, SolarBeam will inflict damage, PP will be deducted from it, and it will count as the last move used. Once SolarBeam is selected, the user will not be able to switch out until it is disrupted or fully executed.

If SolarBeam is not fully executed, PP will not be deducted from it, and it will not count as the last move used. If the target uses Mirror Move during the turn that the user takes in sunlight, Mirror Move will copy the move that the user executed immediately before using SolarBeam (or fail if it can't).

Generation II

SolarBeam will not need a turn to charge if used during harsh sunlight. It will have its power halved if used during rain.

If the user is prevented from attacking with SolarBeam during harsh sunlight by conditions such as flinching, paralysis, and confusion, then PP will still be deducted regardless, due to the fact that SolarBeam was designed as a two-turn attack.

If SolarBeam is disrupted from succeeding due to conditions such as flinching, paralysis, or confusion, the entire move will now be cancelled rather than simply paused.

Generation III

SolarBeam will also have its power halved if used during hail or when a sandstorm is raging.

In the anime

In the main series

Bulbasaur gathers light in its bulb, then it fires a blue or white beam from its bulb at the opponent, or Bulbasaur's bulb glows a bright yellow, then it fires a yellow beam from its bulb at the opponent.

Ivysaur gathers sunlight in the flower bulb on its back, points it at the opponent and fires a white or light green beam at the opponent. Sometimes, when the beam is finished charging, the whole flower glows white.

The inside of the flower on Venusaur's back glows white as sunlight is gathered in it. Then, Venusaur fires a white beam from it at the opponent. Sometimes, when the beam is ready, the whole flower glows white.

One by one, the front petals on Sunflora's head starts to glow white. When all petals are glowing, its face glows white and it fires a massive beam of white energy at the opponent, or Sunflora forms an orb of white and yellow energy in front of its forehead. It then fires a white and yellow beam of energy from the orb at the opponent.

Skitty gathers energy in the pink part of its tail and fires a white beam of energy from the tip of its tail at the opponent, or Skitty lifts its paw into the air, and a white orb forms around it. It then points the ball at the opponent and fires a white beam from the ball.

The top rock on Solrock's head glows white and it gathers energy there. Then, a white ball appears in front of it and Solrock fires a white beam from the ball, or Solrock creates a yellow ball in front of its body and fires a yellow beam from the ball at the opponent.

Sceptile gathers sunlight in its tail, and when the attack is ready, its tail glows white. It then fires a white beam from its mouth, or Sceptile gathers energy in the seeds on its back, and Sceptile fires a white beam from its mouth at the opponent.

Vileplume fires a white beam from the hole from the flower on its head at the opponent, or the flower on Vileplume's head flashes gold and it fired a golden beam from the middle of the flower on its head at the opponent.

Exploud opens its mouth and white energy gathers inside the air tubes on its head. A white ball of energy then appears in front of Exploud's mouth and it fires a white beam of energy from the ball at the opponent.

Budew opens up the bud on top of its head and gathers energy in it. Then, a white orb appears in between them when the SolarBeam is finished charging, and it fires a white beam from the orb at the opponent.

Beautifly's wings glow white as it gathers energy in them. Then, it waves its wings forward and releases a white energy beam from its wings at the opponent, or Beautifly's wings glow light green as it gathers energy in them. Then, a light green ball appears in front of its mouth and it fires a light green beam from the ball at the opponent.

Roserade holds its arms above its head and the flowers on the end of its arms start to glow gold as it gathers energy. The flowers return to normal color when the energy is gathered, and a gold orb of energy appear in front of Roserade's flowers. It then fires a golden beam of energy from the orb at the opponent.

The bush on Pansage's head starts to sparkle light blue as it gathers energy from the sunlight. Pansage then holds its hands up when it is finished gathering energy and the bush becomes surrounded in a bright gold orb. Pansage then takes the orb in its hands and it starts to glow even brighter. It then thrusts the orb forward and releases a bright yellow beam from the orb at the opponent, or the bush on Pansage's head starts to sparkle light blue as it gathers energy from the sunlight. When it is finished gathering energy, it then holds out one of its hands and a golden orb of energy appears in front of it. Pansage then fires a beam of golden energy from the orb at the opponent.

The front two antennae on Whirlipede's body start to glow gold as it gathers energy from the sun. As it does, golden energy starts to form in between the two antennae, which eventually form into a glowing white orb of energy with another orb of energy around it. Whirlipede then fires a powerful golden blast from the orb at the opponent.

Pansear opens its arms, closes its eyes, and faces towards the sky. The tuft on its head then starts to sparkle with silver sparkles as it gathers energy. Pansear then reaches its arms up in front of the tuft of hair and a golden light appears in between its hands, which forms into a bright golden orb with a bigger transparent gold orb around it. Pansear then puts its arms down and holds them at its side. As it moves its hands, the orb stays in the middle of them. Pansear then thrusts its arms forward, firing a powerful golden beam of energy from the orb at the opponent.

The front two antennae on Scolipede's head start to glow gold as it gathers energy. As it does, golden energy starts to form in between the two antennae, which eventually form into a glowing white orb of energy with another orb of energy around it. Scolipede then fires a powerful golden blast from the orb at the opponent.

Primal Groudon glows a faint greenish yellow. Numerous green and yellow balls appear and float around Primal Groudon as a larger ball forms inside its mouth and it fires a green beam of energy at the opponent.

Florges glows a faint yellow. Numerous yellow balls appear and float around Florges as a larger ball forms in front of its head and it fires a beam of energy at the opponent. The surrounding flowers in the field then fire some extra beams of energy at the opponent.

Ludicolo tilts its head forward and then variations of yellow and white colored orbs shine from Ludicolo's head and then its head goes white. Ludicolo spins around, it's head goes back to flashing orbs of different variations of yellow and white from it, with green orbs now surrounding its head. Ludicolo opens its mouth and a light yellow and white-ish ball appears in front of its mouth and grows in size until it almost fills the to the size of its open mouth. Light yellow beams shoot from the orb and then a beam of different variations of the color yellow shoot from the ball and towards the opponent.